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ABSTRACT
The research work was conducted to evaluate the mangicolous fungi associated with Nypa fruiticans soil at Eastern by pass and Kono waterside coastline. The samples were analyzed by plating unto Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). A total of nine (9) fungi genus (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Trichophyton, Acremonium, Rhizopus, Saccharomyces, Candida and Mucor) were isolated from the samples. The total fungi count of this study ranges from 3 x 104 to 7.6 x 105 CFU/g. The most frequent occurring species is the Penicillium species as it occurs in all sampling location, followed by Aspergillus sp, Fusarium sp, Trichophyton sp, Acremonium sp, Rhizopus sp, Saccharomyces sp, Mucor sp and Candida sp.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Mangroves are coastal wetland forests established at the intertidal zones of estuaries, backwaters, deltas, creeks, lagoons, marshes and mudflats of tropical and subtropical latitudes. Mangrove forests are also referred to as mangrove swamps, tidal forests, tidal swamp forests or mangles (Kathiresan and Bingham, 2001) and considered a dynamic ecotone (or transition zone) between terrestrial and marine habitats. Approximately 25% of the world’s coastline is dominated by mangroves distributed in 112 countries and territories encompassing an area of 181,000 km2 Worldwide.
Mangrove forests are extremely important coastal resources, which are vital to our socio-economic development. A vast majority of human population lives in coastal area, and most communities depend on local resources for their livelihood. The mangroves are sources of highly valued commercial products and fishery resources and also as sites for developing a burgeoning eco-tourism (Kathiresan and Bingham, 2001). In Malaysia, mangrove forest occupies approximately 645,852 ha, making it the third largest mangrove area in the Asia-Pacific region (Azahar and Nik, 2003). 105 mangrove species have been recorded in Malaysia (Japar, 1994).
The mangrove forest ecosystem of Nigeria has been under stress for about century now, due significantly to impact of an invasive mangrove palm, Nypa fruticansWurmb (Arecaceae: Palmae). This impact has been described by King and Udo, (1977) “aggressive veget ation succession involving the replacement of the dominant native mangrove macrophytes. This impact is pervasive, spanning most of the Niger Delta Estuaries, including those of cross, Qua Iboe and Imo Rivers. The few remaining areas of pure native mangrove macrophytes still have sprinklings of nipa palm. Nypa fruticans, an Indo-Pacific mangrove palm is reported to have been introduced into calabar in 1906 (Mercer and Hamitton, 1984)
Nypa fruticansWurmb is a mangrove palm that grows well in calm estuaries and coastal zones. The species can prevail in a simple channel or complex tributaries, bays, tidal flats and creeks, as long as there is a tide and a freshwater outflow action (Fong, 1982). Nipa palm usually thrives well in the sediments deposited by an accreting process by the sea, creating a clayish type of soil, with brackish water that promotes an anaerobic system. It grows in soft mud, usually where the water is calmer, but where there is regular inflow of freshwater and nutritious silt. They can be found inland, as far as the tide can deposit the Palm’s floating seeds. It can tolerate infrequent inundation, so long as the soil does not dry out for too long. Its horizontal creeping stem stabilizes river banks preventing soil erosion. New fronds emerge quickly after damage and so quickly protect the land after storms and also continuously produce useful products for the locals (Rozainah and Aslezaeim, 2010).
The species lacks a visible upright trunk, and the leaves appear from the ground. The younger leaves appear from the middle of the crown and push the older leaves aside before they dry and fade away, leaving bulbous leaf bases or scars behind. The diameter of the cluster could be up to 75 cm and a single leaf may attain a height of 8 m. The mature crown may contain 6 to 8 living leaves and 12 to 15 bulbous leaf bases at a time. It differs from most other palms by having a subterranean, dichotomous, and rhizomatous branch (Tomlinson, 1986). Nipah is a monoecious palm and it also exhibits viviparous germination (Tomlinson, 1986) as in many other mangrove species. The distribution of this species ranges from Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Australia and to the Ryukyu Islands. This species is found in the landward side of a mangrove forest that is subject to frequent tidal inundation and is exposed to saline water at high tide but freshwater at low tide. As an adaptation for the submerged environment, the fruit is designed to float, and this buoyancy is attributed to its thick fibrous mesocarp and endocarp (Uhl and Dransfield, 1987).
Nipa which is known by different vernacular names such as “chak” “at-ta” in Thailand, “dua la” and “duamuoc” in Vietnam, “dani” in Myanmar and “atap palm” in Singapore (Baja-Lapis etal., 2004), is a useful source of biofuel because it produces a high amount of sap that can be converted to alcohol. It can produce more ethanol when compare to sugar cane (Hamilton and Murphy, 1988). In addition, nipa is useful agriculturally and ecologically because its habitat does not compete with food crops and its growth is sustainable. Nipa is utilized by humans for several purposes, such as roof thatching, wall partitioning, making of sun hats and mats, foods like edible young seed, aromatic tea from leaf blade, sugar from xylem sap, medicinal purposes and remediation of heavy metal from polluted sites (Okugboetal., 2012).
Fungi play an important role in the nutritive cycle and support of Nypa fruticans and mangrove ecosystem. They commonly occur as saprophytes on decomposing organic matter such as wood, stem, leaf etc. and such symbiosis of plants and animals and as parasites in mangrove ecosystem.
Fungi are heterotrophic eukaryotes that play a major role in the decomposition of dead plant tissues (cellulose and lignin) and to a lesser extent animal tissues such as keratin and chitin. The decomposition releases nutrients back into the ecosystem. Fungi have evolved biologically and biochemically in a diverse manner that allows them to utilize various solid substrate (Meyer etal., 1983).
Fungi being universal organisms occur in all type of habitats and are the most acceptable organisms. The soil is the most important habitats for fungi and other microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast etc. (Wahegaonkaret al., 2011). Fungi are distributed throughout nature and dispersion persist the species to be in equilibrium with one another and with other organisms in their habitats. Many of the fungi can be isolated from the air, with their incidence varying according to geographic, environmental or bioclimatic factors such as collection site, time of the years relative air humidity, rainfall, wind speed and proximity to the source where they were produced. Consequently, these factors determine the quality and quantity of the mycobiota existing in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. (Oliveira etal.,1993).
These fungi play an important role in the nutritive cycle and support the mangrove ecosystem. They commonly occur as saprophytes on decomposing organic matter such as wood, stem, leaf etc. and as symbioses of plants and animals and as parasites of plants in mangrove ecosystem.
Fungi being universal organisms occur in all types of habitats and are the most adaptable organisms. The soil is one of the most important habitats for microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, yeasts, nematodes, etc. Wahegaonkaretal., (2011). Mangrove species diversity is well known for animals and plants, but poorly known for other organisms such as fungi.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Fungi play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter in estuaries. Mangrove forest generate considerable amount of detritus such as leaf litter, woody debris and inflorescence and hence constitute an ideal environment for many detritus-dependent microbes.
Mangicolous fungi inhibit various types of woody substrata available within the intertidal zones. Wood in this zone may emanate from sources such as terrestrial wood, reaching sea by human activities or mangrove. Though the existence of fungi in the marine habitat is no longer new as it has been known from early times, their significance as active participants in marine ecosystem has been overlooked; hence the evaluation of mangicolous fungi associated with Nypa fruticans soil in selected coastline in Rivers State.
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM
The aim of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of mangicolous fungi associated with Nypa fruticans in selected coastline in Rivers State.
OBJECTIVES
The research work has its objectives as
- To study the distribution and uses of nipa palm in mangrove forest
- To evaluate the occurrence of fungi in mangrove forest and
iii. To evaluate the fungi associated with Nipa Palm.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Most local communities within the coastline of rivers State utilizes the Nipa palm for many purpose, such as roof thatch, aromatic tea, sugar etc. Most parts of the nipa palm are cut down as a result of tapping its natural resource which is in turn decomposed by fungi. Hence this research provides information on fungi associated with the soil of Nipa palm.
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY
The study of nipa palm utilization has been carried out (Hossian and Islam, 2015). Other studies on the occurrence of fungi and biodiversity of fungi on selected plants in Godavari deltas, East coast of India have also been carried out, however the scope of this study is limited to the evaluation of mangicolous fungi associated with Nypa fruticans soil in selected coastline in rivers state.
1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS
FUNGI: it is any of a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.
COASTLINE: this is a boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. It is the area where the land meets the sea or ocean.
NIPAPALM: It is a special of palm native to the coastline and estuarine habitats of the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is the only palm considered adapted to mangrove biome.
MANGROVE FOREST: They are unique ecosystem generally found along sheltered coasts where they grow abundantly in saline soil and brackish water subject to periodic fresh and salt water inundation.